Into the Fire

Okay. I know. Some of you gasp at this, but, hey, some people actually do shop early and why not give them some book ideas because most of us here all love books, and we might be surprised at who else would appreciate receiving them as gifts.

Since I so rarely read non-fiction, I’ll start with it. I recommend two very different selections this year (both reviewed on this blog).

Thin Places by Mary E. DeMuth

Thin Places is a memoir written by non-fiction and fiction author Mary DeMuth. It’s a gut-wrenching, touching, bold, and ultimately redemptive recollection of the horrors of Mary’s childhood. If you know anyone who’s suffered through sexual abuse, this is the book for them. And for those of you who want to know what it’s like to experience those horrors as a child and grow into a productive and spiritually secure adult, I highly recommend Thin Places.

A Friend in the Storm by Cheryl Ricker

This hardbound little comfort book would make a nice gift for anyone but especially for those who are going through a difficult time. Cheryl wrote the poems accompanied by scripture verses and numerous quotations to fit each page’s topic for a woman she met who had cancer, but it reaches beyond illnesses with its simple but elegant approach to suffering and sorrow. Giving relief through brief tastes of joy, it’s the just right gift book for someone who really can’t handle a treatise on enduring hard things.

So. On we go to fiction. These novels are all reviewed on this blog and represent my 2010 selections. If you want a more complete list of excellent books, go to the archives and find my Christmas in October post for 2009. I’ll divide my selections into categories.

Feel-Good Novels:

Jenna’s Cowboy by Sharon Gillenwater

This is a sweet romance novel that deals with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in a meaningful way, and I actually enjoyed the story. For those friends or relatives who love a nice little romance novel, this is the one for them.

A Season of Miracles by Rusty Whitener

[My review for this novel will be up on Wednesday.] Rusty Whitener hits a homerun with this reflective glimpse at one season of Little League baseball back in the 70s in Alabama. Tears and laughter for those who read it. A story for all ages.

Speculative:

Immanuels’s Veins by Ted Dekker:

Not my favorite genre, and I do not recommend this one for the tweens and teens who have embraced the vampire novels. This is a far too sensual novel for careful parents to foist upon their kids. No matter the sophistication of some youth, this novel will most likely have young people exiting the novel with some attraction to the sensual power of the wrong side. This book should be for adult readers although I’m sure many teens will read Dekker’s take on the bloodthirsty. I’m just not sure those young people will get the real message from the experience.

Thrillers/Horror:

The Bishop by Steven James

I recommend The Bishop but in order to fully benefit from this genuine thriller you simply must start at the beginning of the Patrick Bowers Series. The Pawn, The Rook, and The Knight precede The Bishop so if you’re able to be extremely generous, this is a knock-out series for lovers of intense thrillers. Special Agent Patrick Bowers is a genius Geospatial Profiler who watches the patterns of serial killers to figure out their basic location of operation. While recovering from his wife’s death and the challenges of raising his teenage step-daughter, hideous killers try to outsmart him and his colleagues, often making it personal.

Darlington Woods by Mike Dellosso

The death of his wife and his missing son drive a man to Darlington Woods with an odd waitress who knows more about the place than she reveals. The horrible creatures that surface in the dark of the woods bring terror to a small community who’ve lived in fear for a long time. When evil seems to wield the upper hand in the darkness, the evil is engaged by the real power. Great twists toward the end.

Mystery/Suspense

Deceit by Brandilyn Collins

Providing a mature female character who is a Skip Tracer, this story portrays her determination to expose the killer of her best friend. Twists and turns and unexpected results beset the heroine every step of the way. Staccato prose that keeps the reader on his/her toes.

Back on Murder by J. Mark Bertrand

First person present tense gives the reader an in depth look at police procedures with an emotionally wounded protagonist, a detective who dares the reader to get in his corner while doing his best to prove he’s “back on murder” as the case of a missing girl intersects with a murder investigation. Very well done.

The Clouds Roll Away by Sibella Giorello

Rejoining FBI Special Agent Raleigh Harmon is always a treat. This is the third novel by Sibella Giorello to take us through the heartaches and disciplines of this great character. Her intuitive skills don’t seem to register with her hard-headed boss, but Raleigh keeps after her suspicions no matter how close to home they get. The three novels do stand on their own but the layers of Raleigh’s character deserve starting at the beginning with The Stones Cry Out to be followed by The Rivers Run Dry and then The Clouds Roll Away. All very well written.

To be continued . . .